Chapter 5

Jay

“We should really consider going national with that new promotion George suggested earlier,” Mitchell said.

Jay could barely focus through the day’s meetings, let alone his friend’s mindless banter. It had been more than three days since he’d met Kasey, and she hadn’t so much as sent him an email follow-up, which was an expected industry courtesy.

The company party would be the following day, and the thought of being turned down was not sitting well with him. Jay Canton didn’t deal with rejection well or often.

“What’s the latest with Kasey Wright?” Mitchell abruptly changed the topic, and Jay straightened up in his seat, aware that his business partner could pick up on his vibes.

“Not sure. I haven’t heard from her since Monday, but I know the offer was more money than she’s ever made in her life,” Jay explained in a dazed tone, working the thoughts out as he spoke.

There weren’t many people who would hold out on a deal as good as the one he’d offered Kasey. She was either playing hard to get, or worse, she was hard to get.

“I think it’s about more than money with her, Jay. She’s been with that firm through thick and thin. She’s a loyal agent, if such a thing exists, but that rarity is what’s making her so damn successful.”

So, Mitchell believed it was the latter, Kasey Wright was going to be hard to get. That didn’t deter Jay in the least, instead, it excited him. She wanted him to fight for her and he was readying himself to do just that.

“What do you think she needs?” he asked Mitchell, his head cocked to the side with interest. Jay might have been the ladies’ man, but Mitchell understood women better, and was always his go-to when trying to understand the opposite sex.

“Someone like Kasey is dedicated to her writers. She wants to know that it means more than churning a profit to you. She most likely looks at a place like Passions as a warehouse for authors—with no integrity for the art. Kasey wants to know that you’ll let her be her. She’s probably afraid you’ll want her chasing money, and it seems by avoiding the chase of riches, she’s found her treasure chest.”

“You’re pretty heavy with the analogies today, don’t you think?” Jay smirked, before joining Mitchell in a laugh.

“Seriously. Don’t be so heavy on the money talk, and instead just be honest with her. You like what she does, you like how she does it, and you want to offer her an opportunity to do that here —with more resources and support than she currently has access to. The pay is secondary to a woman like Kasey.” Mitchell spoke confidently, like he knew more about her than Jay ever could. That was one of his many strengths, the uncanny ability to empathize with people he had nothing in common with.

Like Jay, Mitchell was extremely wealthy, and could never understand turning down a financial opportunity for loyalty to glorified employees. Sure, they both loved Passions Publishing, but if an offer to buy the corporation in its entirety was the best strategy, there would be no emotional ties stopping them from signing on the dotted line.

“Either way, I’m sure she’ll make a great addition to the team,” Mitchell added as his phone buzzed. Excusing himself by raising one finger, Jay nodded, silently communicating they would discuss it more later on.

Ten minutes passed, and Jay, alone with his thoughts in the large office, decided that action beat theory and picked up his office phone with a plan.

“Yes, Mr. Canton,” his secretary answered.

“Do you still have the file for Kasey Wright?”

“Yes, of course,” she answered, the sound of papers frantically ruffling proved she was trying to locate the information.

“Great. Send Danny the address of her employer, and let me know when he’s ready to drive me over.”

“Yes, sir.”

Pacing his office, Jay wondered what he should say to Kasey, and if she would even give him any more of her time. The memory of her pink lips pursing together after informing him her time was money brought a smile to his face. He liked her sassiness, and looked forward to more banter with the woman he just couldn’t seem to figure out.

The thought of her lips did more than peak his professional interest, and he found himself adjusting his pants as he wondered how soft those lips were, and what her lip gloss tasted like.

“The car is downstairs, Mr. Canton,” the intercom sounded, snapping him from the explicit thoughts.

The ride over was longer than he’d expected, and for a second he thought Danny had the wrong address. The publishing house was even smaller than he imagined, located in a deserted strip mall. There wasn’t even a sign out front, and visitors would have to know what they were looking for to even find it.

Beneath the shock was a feeling of nostalgia, as Jay remembered his first commercial space for Passions Publishing. He and Mitchell had pooled their savings to get what they thought would make them an official company. It was barely larger than their two-bedroom apartment, and didn’t even have a bathroom. He shook his head remembering how they’d struck a deal with the manager of the adjacent Chinese restaurant so that they could use the restroom without ordering, something required of other patrons.

It was the poorest he’d ever been, but he had nothing but great memories from that time in his life. A time when he was trying to make it and become who he was today.

“Should I hang out here, or come back?” Danny asked, as he held the back door open.

“Just stay here. I shouldn’t be long,” he answered, hearing the strangeness of his unsure tone.

It was not common that he didn’t know what to expect, but walking into the rundown publishing house, he was anything but confident. Luckily, life had taught him how to hold his head high even when he didn’t know how things would go. Especially then.

Buttoning his suit jacket, he opened the front door to the publishing house, thinking to himself that it needed to be replaced years ago. A thin woman sat behind a gray desk, and from the look in her eyes, she would be happy to eat out of his hand.

Jay could tell when a woman was into him, impressed by the dressings that came along with success, and this woman was one of them.

“How are you today?” he asked, instantly bringing a rosy color to her cheeks as she fluttered with some papers.

“Hi,” she finally managed, brushing her frizzy red hair with timid fingers.

“I was looking for someone,” Jay began, when the office phone started ringing. Looking from the phone to Jay, the young girl seemed overwhelmed with two tasks. “Go ahead,” Jay encouraged her to answer the phone, clenching his teeth to hold in his laughter.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jay glanced around the office, unimpressed by the upkeep. Even when he and Mitchell were first starting out, they made sure their office was presentable, regardless of how small it was. He couldn’t imagine how Kasey was closing deals in a place so uninviting.

Just then, a door opened behind Jay, prompting him to turn around, and there she was. Even more beautiful than he remembered, Kasey paused as she realized Jay was actually standing there in front of her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, attempting to sound cold, though Jay detected the subtle excitement in her voice.

“I would like a few minutes of your time, but I came prepared,” he said, reaching into his suit jacket to retrieve five thousand dollars banded together crisply. “Your time being money and all.”

Looking to the receptionist, who appeared to be frozen in time, and then back to Jay in his tailored suit, Kasey reluctantly took the money from his hand before leading him into her meager office.

Following behind her, Jay finally let the grin spread across his face as he watched her hips sway with each step. She was wearing a form fitting navy dress, with beige stiletto heels. Her perfume was as alluring as the sway in her hips, and he inhaled her lavender and rose scent before readying himself for the inevitable ice wall she was sure to put between them.

He knew what he was walking into, and he’d come prepared for the challenge. Kasey Wright wanted to see that he was about more than money, and Jay Canton was prepared to do just that. Closing the door behind him, he followed Kasey to her bare wooden desk, where she sat the stack of money before crossing her legs and tilting her head, prompting him to begin.

It was show time.